Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobecopin’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Sunlobecopin’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and purple violet-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Lobelia erinus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNLOBECOPIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunlobecopin’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Lobelia plants freely branching and bushy plant habit and attractive flower coloration.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 2008 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 7Lob-36c, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia erinus identified as code number 8Lob-15b, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant with the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since May, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunlobecopin’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunlobecopin’ as a new and distinct Lobelia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Light purple violet-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are not as broad as plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have lilac-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia erinus ‘Lobantis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,198. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Lobelia differed from plants of ‘Lobantis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were taller than and not as         outwardly spreading than plants of ‘Lobantis’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Lobelia were narrowly elliptic in         shape whereas leaves of plants of ‘Lobantis’ were broadly ovate         in shape.     -   3. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Lobantis’ differed in flower         color as plants of ‘Lobantis’ had light purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobecopin’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunlobecopin’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following description were grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lobelia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘Sunlobecopin’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia             erinus identified as code number 7Lob-36c, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia             erinus identified as code number 8Lob-15b, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright and mounding             plant habit; freely branching habit with lateral branches             developing at potentially every node; relatively short             internodes; dense and bushy plant habit; vigorous growth             habit.         -   Plant height.—About 48.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Diameter: About 1.2 mm.             Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible.             Aspect: Upright to somewhat outwardly. Texture: Slightly             pubescent. Color: Close to 137C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement, habit and shape.—Flowers typically             arranged in terminal and lateral racemes; flowers held             mostly outwardly; freely flowering habit with typically four             to eight flowers per inflorescence and about 281 flowers per             plant; flowers bilabiate with two upper petals and three             larger lower petals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In Japan, plants of the new             Lobelia flower from May until October; plants begin             flowering about three to four weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual             flowers is highly dependent on temperature, flowers             typically last about 10 to 14 days on the plant; flowers             persistent.         -   Flower length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 8.6 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 3.6 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9.4 mm. Diameter: About 2.9 mm.             Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Close to 150C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals fused             towards the base; two upper petals and three larger lower             petals. Upper petals: Length, beyond throat: About 5.1 mm.             Width: About 1.6 mm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Lower petals: Length, beyond throat: About 8.6 mm.             Width: About 4.9 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper petals: When opening, upper surface: Close to             N82B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 85D. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N82C. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 85D. Color, lower petals: When opening,             upper surface: Close to N82B; towards the base, close to             NN155D; spots, close to 83B. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 85D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N82C;             towards the base, close to NN155D; spots, close to 83B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 85D. Color, throat:             Close to 155C; spots, close to 79C; nectar guides, close to             154A. Color, tube: Close to 155C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at             the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 6.1 mm. Width:             About 1.2 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 138A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Stamen length: About 6.6 mm. Anther length: About 2 mm.             Anther width: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Oblong, fused.             Anther color: Close to 83A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to NN155B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 8.6 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-lobate. Stigma             color: Close to N87B. Style color: Close to 145B. Ovary             color: Close to 145A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Lobelia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘Sunlobecopin’ as illustrated and described. 